Having represented Great Britain at the Olympics and last week become
England’s youngest goalkeeper, Jack Butland is relieved to have got a less
high-profile debut out of the way.

The 19-year-old spent most of last season on loan at Cheltenham Town and at last made an appearance for Birmingham City on Saturday, in the 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic.

It was scarcely as dramatic as his previous debut, at international level, but Butland is glad the milestone that was rapidly becoming a millstone had been achieved.

“I don’t think many players do it the way I did it,” Butland said. “I was very happy to get it out of the way. It was ‘he hasn’t played for Birmingham yet’ and it was doing my head in. I was grateful to get it out of the way though unfortunately we didn’t quite get the job done.”

His remarkable progress to Roy Hodgson’s England squad in polar contrast to his career at club level has fuelled transfer speculation, though Birmingham manager Lee Clark’s valuation of around £18 million might deter any potential buyers. Even so, Butland insists he has no intentions of departing the Midlands.

“I’ve got everything I need right here. There is no rush. I don’t know how many 19 year-olds are playing in the Championship, there’s certainly not any playing in the Premiership. It depends on what type of character you are really. I’ve been very lucky to have great support around me.

“I know I want to achieve a lot more things and that means keeping my feet on the floor and staying focused. With all the lads in the squad and the banter we have and all of that you don’t have to say anything. That’s the way football is.”

Leon Cort’s 82nd-minute header atoned for his Charlton colleagues’ earlier profligacy but substitute Nicola Zigic rescued a point with the home team’s first genuine shot on target in the last minute of stoppage time.

Clark admitted: “It was not our most fluent performance. Some of our players were not exploding. These things happen in the early part of the season. They showed great character to come back from what you were thinking was going to be a defeat, when you are in injury time and a goal down to snatch a point.

Charlton manager Chris Powell said: “On one hand I am disappointed we dropped two points after getting so close to a win. But I have to give my team a lot of plaudits for the performance.”